Environmental Management

Sumitomo Metal Mining Group Environmental Targets for 2023

FY2023 Policy

Use an environmental management system (EMS) to strengthen environmental management, address global environmental issues, and preserve biodiversity

FY2023 Targets

1. Eliminate environmental accidents and compliance breaches
2. Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
3. Promote preservation of biodiversity

Promotion Structure

Deploy Environmental Targets and Use an Environmental Management System

Based on our Group’s environmental vision and progress toward it, the Safety & Environment Control Department formulates a proposal for the Group’s environmental targets (policies, objectives, strategies), which are reviewed and approved by the president. At each business site, annual targets and plans are developed based on the Group’s environmental targets, taking into account the unique risks of each site, and are carried out through the EMS based on ISO 14001 (JIS Q 14001). As of April 1, 2023, all our production sites have obtained third-party ISO 14001 certification.

The Environmental Preservation Subcommittee and the Safety & Environment Control Department

The Safety & Environment Control Department serves as the secretariat of the Environmental Preservation Subcommittee with respect to significant environmental accidents and biodiversity which are material issues. The Department is the functional instructing department with respect to environmental preservation activities in general, promoting initiatives through the cooperation and collaboration of various departments to realize the Vision. This includes the operations of the Environmental Preservation Subcommittee, functional instructions to site managers based on legal revisions and other external information, various reports and inspections, and alerts and inspection directives through the sharing information about environmental accidents and nearmiss cases within the Group.

The Carbon Neutrality Committee and the Technology Division

Regarding climate change, which is a material issue, the Technology Division serves as the secretariat and functional instruction division for the Carbon Neutrality Committee,* driving activities through collaboration and cooperation with various departments to achieve the Group’s Vision. It runs the Carbon Neutrality Committee, formulates the policy, targets, and plans to achieve carbon neutrality and deliberates on material issues, collecting external information (from guidelines of affiliated organizations, international trends, regulatory revisions, etc.) and performance data, sharing case studies with other departments, and deliberates on and approves the internal carbon pricing (ICP) system.

■ Promotion Structure

Conference for Environment Managers

Conferences for environment managers are held in principle once per year and are attended by environment managers from all business sites. In these meetings, we aim to enhance the capabilities of these managers through education and discussion on the progress of environmental objectives, updates on legal amendments and compliance status, as well as environmental performance and priority areas of focus.

Individual Initiatives for Environmental Preservation

Inspections, Communications

The head of the department overseeing a business site conducts an annual inspection of the business site, including the business sites of the Group companies it oversees. In addition, the General Manager of the Safety & Environment Control Department inspects designated business sites, including those of Group companies, to ensure that proper environmental management practices are in place.
Further, the Safety & Environment Control Department conducts environmental communication activities to assess environmental issues at each business site by visiting designated sites, including those of Group companies. Findings from the inspection by the General Manager of the Safety & Environment Control Department are reported to the heads of the business sites and the department responsible, as well as the president of SMM. Upon sharing the identified issues, efforts are made to enhance environmental management levels at the respective business sites.

Environmental Management in the Besshi District

In the Besshi District (Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture, and its suburbs), where many of our Group’s manufacturing bases are located, the Besshi-Niihama District Division Safety & Environment Control Center plays a central role in enhancing environmental management standards. This involves offering guidance on environmental management initiatives to business sites including Group companies in the district. The Center also offers regular opportunities to exchange information, study sessions, and conducts mutual patrolling to improve environmental practices.

Education

In addition to providing e-learning as an educational tool for laws and regulations and environmental management, we offer training for EMS internal auditors, and environmental management education for newly appointed business site general managers, the environment managers, new employees, and mid-career hires to enhance environmental management levels.

Environmental Preservation Initiatives at Business Sites

Through EMS, each business site conducts activities on a regular basis to improve the level of environmental management through the PDCA cycle. Such activities include evaluations of the effect on the environment of the business’ activities (environmental risk assessment), formulation and execution of environmental management, preventive environmental preservation activities, tracking through internal and third-party audits, management reviews, and emergency response training in case of accidents.